The decision by this arbitrator was so bizarre that even the company was shocked. The arbitrator completely disregarded the clear intent of the stipulation and tortured and parsed the word "employed." According to this idiot, the company could furlough every single AA pilot and not trigger the floor. While arbitrators decisions are normally pretty unchangeable, this decision is so crazy that it's being taken to court.

With regards to AE, AMR knows that the 50 seaters are essentially obsolete. In their openers to the pilot contract, they're demanding 1 for 1 replacement of 50 seaters with 70 seat class airplanes. Strangely, however, no mention of 100 seat class airplanes at all. AE is economically dead unless they can break the APA, like UAL and DAL have broken ALPA, which is exactly what they're trying to do. As usual, AA so-called management is in deep buffet and out of ideas and altitude. They've got three contracts up right now and all three unions are livid.

There is one sure fire way to do it. Otherwise they are just going to have to be good businessmen, and power through this.

The decision by this arbitrator was so bizarre that even the company was shocked. The arbitrator completely disregarded the clear intent of the stipulation and tortured and parsed the word "employed." According to this idiot, the company could furlough every single AA pilot and not trigger the floor. While arbitrators decisions are normally pretty unchangeable, this decision is so crazy that it's being taken to court.

With regards to AE, AMR knows that the 50 seaters are essentially obsolete. In their openers to the pilot contract, they're demanding 1 for 1 replacement of 50 seaters with 70 seat class airplanes. Strangely, however, no mention of 100 seat class airplanes at all. AE is economically dead unless they can break the APA, like UAL and DAL have broken ALPA, which is exactly what they're trying to do. As usual, AA so-called management is in deep buffet and out of ideas and altitude. They've got three contracts up right now and all three unions are livid.

It isn't "AE" (or Eagle ALPA for that matter) trying to break the APA, but AA/AMR attempting that.

I don't think AMR is kicking the can down the road regarding all their labor contracts out of cluelessnes, but on purpose and if they're doing it on purpose, they must think that this strategy will ultimately pay off for them.

I've got no problem with a bankruptcy. Bring it on. Maybe it'll get rid of a lot of incompetent parasites in the senior management ranks. However, if AA doesn't get an actual leader (and not just another shoe clerk) in the CEO job, it really won't matter.

AE is just a tool of AMR to be used against mainline. The endless foot-dragging on contract talks is right out of the union busting playbook. They have no idea how to run an airline into the future other than to dumb-down labor standards to the lowest denominator. That is plan A thru Z.

I've got no problem with a bankruptcy. Bring it on. Maybe it'll get rid of a lot of incompetent parasites in the senior management ranks.

Bravely spoken. You must have very little to lose. Are you on the bottom of the list? A bankruptcy brought on by a union strike won't result in change in the senior management ranks. They'll just blame your union and call your contract demands unreasonable by comparing them to the other legacy contracts.

How is your contract different from other legacies? Expect to lose what they don't have if AA goes bankrupt. Think you can afford it?

AA would simply reorganize under a pre-pak scenario and actually come out quite lean and competitive, shedding their future pension obligations, getting competitive pay rates, loose scope and PBS. Of course, a lot of employees might quit, but AA would probably then GROW in size once the executives had a labor cost structure they believe they could compete agressively with.

The way AA probabaly sees it, is they'd probably shed those angry employees that didn't want to stay anyway and then one thing is absolutely for certain - AA would be INUNDATED with applications for all job catagories from thousands of people looking for jobs or better jobs.

I see little downside for AMR's plans and little chance of success for current AA mainline labor. Once the house falls down at AA, every other high cost mainline carrier not in competitive line with AA will have to ultimately match AA's labor cost structure or be at a competitive disadvantage.

Both ALPA and the APA failed to recognize the signifigance of the RJ and still are in denial to what's ultimately coming.

I wish things were different, but the boulder is rolling downhill and picking up speed and there's no stopping it now.

Call me crazy, but I think APA and AMR are making progress towards a contract. Ill bet they have a new one inked by Sept 1. The email updates I get from the aanegotiations website have had a slightly more positive tone and state that things are progressing. APA has been unusually quiet, without the stories of storming out of negotiations meetings, and press releases ridiculing mgmt. Anyone else?